Top roll



Jan. 26, 1960 H. c. DICKEY 2,922,199

TOP ROLL Filed March 29, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HERBERT C. .D/CKE Y BY H- i l 6 ATTORNEY H. C. DICKEY TOP ROLL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1956 INVENTOR HERBERT C. DICKE Y BY H.

H16 ATTORNEY m MN @v WW W P 31 P0 w l w. L? W ow fi L w 2 9w N h v TOP ROLL Herbert C. Dickey, Forestville, Conn., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application March 29,1956, Serial No. 574,835

16 Claims. (Cl. 19-142) The present invention relates to a top roll assembly for drawing machines employed in the textile industry.

In the processing of thread and the like in the textile industry, it is common practice to pass the roving (loosely formed thread) or yarn between relatively rotatable top and bottom rolls in a roving machine. Thme top and bottom rolls are weighted or otherwise urged towards each other to grip the yarn as its diameter is reduced by differential rotative speed of two or more sets of rolls.

In the usual situation, these rolls are mounted in plain bearings which require a large amount of service and, particularly, frequent lubrication. Furthermore, an objectionable situation results from the presence of unconfined lubricant which may contaminate the yarn.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a top roll assembly for drawing machines wherein yieldable cylindrical cots, which may be of cork, rubber or other resilient material, are freely rotatively mounted upon inexpensive ball bearings which are shielded to retain lubricant therein and to prevent ingress of objectionable textile filaments or fibers.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shell type top roll construction in which the important parts are made from sheet metal pressed to form thereby requiring little machining.

It is further contemplated to provide a top roll construction in which the flexible cot members are rotatively mounted in angular bearing contact with a plurality of antifriction bearing elements to stabilize the cot members which engage the roving.

The top roll assembly of the present invention is further provided with suitable resilient means which will provide a satisfactory preload on the antifriction bearing elements to aid proper cot alignment.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a.v preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows in more detail the construction of individual top roll assemblies of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows another embodiment of the top roll assembly.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of, another form, of the invention.

As the description of my invention proceeds, like numerals are employed to identify corresponding parts of the several embodiments of the invention shown by the drawings.

A preferred form of my top roll construction is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The assembly includes a hollow cylindrical sheet metal supporting sleeve 2 over each end of which is fitted a coaxially disposed cup-shaped inner race ring 4 also formed of sheet metal. A saddle or other suitable means indicated in phantom at 5 is employed to mount the top roll in operating relationwith an associated bottom roll, not shown. Each inner race ring 4 has an annular raceway 6 angularly disposedwith respect to the supporting sleeve 2 and on which are rollingly mounted a plurality of cireumferentially disposed anti- 2,922,199 Patented Jan. 26, 1960 lot:

friction rolling elements as balls 7. Each inner racering.

has a radially extending annular guard flange 8 andhas an end wall provided with a through bore 12 coaxial of the support sleeve 2. A rotatable axle 14 extends in radially spaced relation to and through the support sleeve 2 and through the inner race rings 4.

A roll assembly 16 includes a cot 18 of cork, rubber or other suitable resilient materials grippingly engaging the outer surface of an open-ended sheet metal cylindrical shell 20.. If desired, the cot may also besuitably bonded or cemented to the shell 20. A sheet metal cupshaped outer race ring 22 having a cylindrical wall 24 pressed into gripping engagement within the shell20, terminates in an end wall 26having a through bore'28 through which the axle 14 freely extends in radially spaced relation. The junction of the walls 24 and 26 of the outer race ring is shaped to form an annular angularly disposed outer raceway 30 for receiving the balls 7 in rolling engagement. This angular contact arrangement of the balls with the raceways facilitates bearing adjustment to take up wear and at the same time permits atiltables'elfaligning movement of the shells 20 and cots 18 when the cots encounter uneven portions in the roving.

A sheet metal mounting cup 32 has a cylindrical wall 34 pressed into gripping engagement within the cylindrical shell 20, and is provided with an end wall 36 which abuts the end wall 26 of the outer race ring 22. 'A bore 38 through the end wall 36 is aligned with the outer race ring bore 28 and with the inner race ring bore 12 to loosely receive the axle 14 therethrough. A Belleville 32 and preferably against the curved portion of theend wall 36 which merges with the cylindrical wall 34. Each Belleville washer is resiliently compressed, between the adjacent end walls 36 and the snap ring 42'to provide for a; light predetermined preload within the angular contact antifriction bearings at each end of the supporting sleeve 2. In the event that only one Belleville washer is used, the snap ring 42 at the other end of the axle'may engage the end wall 36 of the member 32..

The annular radially extending. flanges f the inner race rings 4 respectively terminate in closely spaced relation to the inner surfaces of the cylindrical walls 24 of the outer race rings 22 to prevent loss of lubricant from the bearings and more particularly to preventv the ingress of textile filaments, dirt and other deleterious materials into the bearings.

Figures 3 and 4 show a modified construction generally similar to that of Figures 1 and 2, and'which further 'pro- In Figure 4, a modified constructionis illustrated where-' I in the axle 14 of the previous embodiments has been replaced by a bolt 54. This bolt has a head 56 cooperating with a flanged washer or sleeve 58 havingits flange engaging the end wall 26 of the outer race ring 22 and having a reduced sleeve portion journalled withinthe axial bore through the outer race ring 22 and spaced from the inner race ring 4. The flanged washer 58 may be composed of various molded plastic materials which are 3 resiliently yieldable, will not be detrimentally affected by heat, light or bearing lubricants and which have a low coefficient of friction in contact with a metalsurfact-"YA synthetic polymeric amide, commonly known as nylon" and a polymeric tetraflnorethylene, commonly known as Teflon are examples of some of the materials which have ben found satisfactory for the flanged washer 58. With this arrangement, the slight differential rotation between the cots 18 will not result in detrimental friction betweenthe axle 54 and the outer race rings 22; A Belleville washer 60, mounted at the other end ofthe bolt 54 is adjustably deflected by means of a nut threaded on the bolt to provide a desired preload on the bearings. In this last mentioned construction, the flexible cot 18 is grippingly mounted on a cup-shaped cylindrical sheet metal shell 50 into the open end of which is pressed the outer race ring cup 22 for rotation therewith about the axially extending supporting sleeve member 2. This sleeve 50 is provided with a closed outer end wall 52 which prevents ingress of foreign material into the bearing.

The various parts of the several disclosed embodiments are for the most part formed from pressed sheet metal which requires very little or substantially no machining. Additionally, it will be appreciated that this construction employs components which are interchangeable to a considerable extent. For example, in Figure 2, it will be noted that the outer race ring 22 and mounting cup 32 may be interchangeable. If desired, the shell members 20 or 50 may be secured over the outer race rings 22 and over the mounting sleeve 32, when used, by a light press fit to facilitate demounting of the roll shells from the bearings when it is desired to install new cots 18 o the outer surfaces of these roll shells.

I claim:

1. A top roll comprising a pair of axially spaced roll assemblies, a supporting sleeve extending between said assemblies, a pair of antifriction bearings respectively located at the ends of said sleeve, each bearing having an inner race ring mounted on an end of the sleeve and having an outer race ring mounted within and supporting a roll assembly, a circumferential series of rolling elements associated with each pair of race rings and in angular contact therewith, an axle extending through the bearings and through said sleeve and radially spaced from the inner race ring and from said sleeve, said sleeve supporting said race rings out of engagement with the axle, and resilient means on the axle to provide a predetermined preload on the bearings.

2. A top roll as defined in claim 1 wherein one of the race rings has an annular flange extending generally radially towards and into closely spaced relation with the other race ring.

3. A top roll as defined in claim 1 in which the inner race ring has an annular guard flange extending generally radially towards the outer race ring and terminating in closely spaced relation to the outer race ring.

, 4. A top roll comprising a pair of axially spaced roll assemblies, a supporting sleeve extending between and into said assemblies, an antifriction angular contact bearing supported on each end of the sleeve, each bearing having an inner race ring fitted over and supported by an end of the sleeve and having an outer race ring fitted within and supporting one of the roll assemblies, an axle extending through the bearings and sleeve and demountably securing the parts in assembled relation, said axle being located in radially spaced out of contact relation to the sleeve and to said inner race rings, and a resilient member fitted over the axle and resiliently engageable with one of the bearings to provide a predetermined preload on both bearings.

5. A top roll comprising a pair of axially spaced roll assemblies, a supporting sleeve extending between and into each of said assemblies in spaced relation thereto, an anti-friction angular contact bearing at each end of the sleeve, each bearing having an inner race ring slidably mounted over an end of the sleeve, an outer race ring on each bearing mounted within and supporting a roll assembly, an axle extending through both bearings and through said sleeve in spaced relation to said race rings and to said sleeve, a resilient-member mounted on the axle and biasingly engaging one of the outer race rings to preload the angular contact bearings, and an adjustment element on the axle adjustably engaging said resilient member to regulate the preload.

6. In a top roll for drawing machines, an elongated sleeve member, a pair of inner race rings respectively mounted over the ends of said sleeve, said race rings having angularly disposed annular raceways thereon for receiving a plurality of rolling elements, an outer race ring supported by each set of rolling elements, and having an angularly disposed raceway, a mounting member associated with each outer race ring, an axle extending through the sleeve and bearings and mounting members, a resilient member on each end of the axle and engaging a mounting member, and means on said axle to deform said resilient members for providing a predetermined preload on the angular contact bearings.

7. A top roll comprising a pair of axially spaced roll assemblies, a supporting sleeve extending between said assemblies, an antifriction angular contact bearing at each end of said sleeve, each bearing having an outer race ring supporting one of the roll assemblies and having a cooperating inner race ring slidably fitted over an end of said sleeve, a mounting member secured within each roll assembly in endwise abutting relation to one of said outer race rings, .a series of rolling elements between each pair of cooperating race rings, an axle extending in spaced relation through the mounting members and bearings and sleeve, a pair of dished resilient washers respectively fitted over the ends of the axle and seated within said mounting members and supporting the axle in spaced relation to said bearings, and demountable means on the axle deformably compressing the resilient washers to preload said bearings.

8. In a top roll for drawing machines, a supporting sleeve, a pair of angular contact antifriction bearings respectively located at each end of the supporting sleeve, each bearing having an inner race ring generally cupshaped and slidably fitted over and substantially closing the end of the sleeve, each bearing having a cup-shaped outer race ring, said race rings having opposed annular raceways in angular relation to a radial plane of the bearing, a series of rolling elements engaging each pair of opposed raceways, a roll assembly mounted over each outer race ring, an axle extending through each pair of race rings and through said supporting sleeve, and resilient means demountably fitted over each end of said axle and imparting bias to said outer race rings to preload the angular contact bearings.

9 In a top roll for drawing machines, an elongated supporting sleeve, a pair of coaxial cup-shaped inner race rings respectively fitted over and substantially closing the ends of said sleeve and having annular raceways thereon in angular contact with a series of circumferentially disposed rolling elements, cup-shaped outer race rings respectively associated with each inner race ring and having angular contact raceways each of which receives a series of said rolling elements, each outer race ring having a substantially radial end wall and having a cup-shaped cylindrical wall generally surrounding the inner race ring, a cylindrical shell grippingly secured to the cylindrical wall of each outer race ring for rotation therewith, an axle extending through the outer and inner race rings in radially spaced coaxial relation to said rings and through the supporting sleeve in radially spaced coaxialrelation to the sleeve, a deformably resilient member fitted over the axle and arranged to impart a biasing preload between the sets of rolling elements andtheir associated race rings, and means on the axle engageable with said resilient member to control said preload.

10. In a top roll for drawing machines, a supporting sleeve, a pair of axially spaced roll assemblies respectively surrounding the ends of said sleeve in spaced relation, an antifriction angular contact bearing at each end of the sleeve, each bearing having a cup-shaped inner race ring slidably mounted over the end of the sleeve and having an angularly disposed annular raceway for receiving a circumferential series of rolling elements, each bearing having a cup-shaped outer race ring with a cylindrical Wall surrounding the inner race ring and fitting within a sleeve portion of the roll assembly, a generally radially disposed end wall on each outer race ring, a cup-shaped mounting member within each roll assembly and cooperating with each outer race ring in supporting said sleeve portion of the roll assembly, an axle extending through the cup-shaped members, race rings and sleeve, a Belleville washer slidably fitted over each end of the axle and respectively engageable within said mounting members, and means on the axle for compressing the Belleville washers against the mounting members to provide a predetermined preload between the race rings and their associated rolling elements.

11. A top roll comprising a pair of axially spaced roll assemblies, a supporting sleeve extending between and into said assemblies, a pair of angular contact antifriction bearings respectively located at the ends of said sleeve, each bearing having an inner race ring mounted over an end of the sleeve and having a cooperating outer race ring fitted within an annular shell portion of one of said roll assemblies, an annular flange on one of the race rings radially projecting into closely spaced relation with the other race ring, means securing the bearings and supporting sleeve in assembled relation, and a member mounted on the supporting sleeve and having an annular flange projecting from the sleeve into spaced relation with said shell portion.

12. A top roll comprising a pair of axially spaced roll assemblies, a supporting sleeve extending between said assemblies, a pair of angular contact antifriction bearings respectively located at the ends of said sleeve, each bearing having an inner race ring fitted over an end of the sleeve, and having a cup-shaped outer race ring provided with a cylindrical portion overlying an inner race ring and supporting a roll assembly, means including an axle for securing the bearings and supporting sleeve in assembled relation, an annular flange on the inner race ring extending into closely spaced relation with said cylindrical portion, a sleeve mounted over the supporting sleeve and having an annular flange within the outer race ring and radially extending into spaced relation with said cylindrical portion.

13. A top roll comprising a pair of axially spaced roll assemblies, a supporting sleeve extending between said assemblies, a pair of angular contact antifriction bearings respectively located at the ends of said sleeve, each bearing having an inner race ring fitted over an end of the sleeve and having a cup-shaped outer race ring provided with a cylindrical portion, each roll assembly having a shell portion fitted over and supported by one of said outer race ring cylindrical portions, an axle extending through said outer and inner race rings and through said supporting sleeve, journal members on the axle rotatably supporting the axle and mounted within the outer race rings, resilient means on the axle engageable with one of said outer race rings, and a threaded member on the axle adjustably compressing said resilient means to adjustably preload the bearings.

14. A top roll comprising a pair of axially spaced roll assemblies, a supporting sleeve extending between said assemblies, a pair of angular contact antifriction bearings respectively located at the ends of said sleeve, each bearing having an inner race ring fitted over an end of the sleeve, each bearing having a cup-shaped outer race ring provided with a cylindrical portion overlying an inner race ring, each roll assembly being provided with an annular shell member closed at its outer end and fitting over the cylindrical portion of the outer race ring, an axle extending through said race rings and through said supporting sleeve, a sleeve member slidably mounted on each end of the axle and respectively journalled within said outer race rings, a resilient washer fitted over one end of the axle and engageable with one of the outer race rings, and an adjustment member threaded on the axle and compressibiy engaging the resilient washer to produce a predetermined preload on the-bearing.

15. A top roll comprising a pair of axially spaced roll assemblies, a supporting sleeve extending between and into each of said assemblies, a pair of angular contact antifriction bearings respectively located at the ends of said sleeve, each bearing having an inner race ring slidably fitted over the end of the sleeve and having an annular angular contact raceway for receiving a circumferential series of rolling elements, each bearing having a cupshaped outer race ring provided with an annular raceway for receiving a series of said rolling elements, a cylindrical portion on each outer race ring, an annular shell portion on each roll assembly respectively and demountably fitting over the cylindrical portion of each outer race ring, an axle extending through the bearings and through the supporting sleeve, sleeve members slidably mounted on the ends of the axle and respectively journalled within said outer race rings, a Belleville washer slidably mounted over one end of the axle and engaging one of the outer race rings, a threaded member on the axle compressibly engaging the Belleville washer, an annular flange on one of the race rings at each end of the axle and radially extending into proximity with the associated race ring, and a flanged member at each end of the sleeve having a portion radially projecting into proximity with one of said race rings.

16. A top roll comprising a pair of axially spaced roll assemblies, a supporting sleeve extending between said assemblies, a pair of angular contact antifriction bearings respectively located at the ends of each sleeve, each hearing having a cup-shaped inner race ring slidably fitting over and substantially closing the end of the sleeve, each bearing having a cup-shaped outer race ring provided with a cylindrical portion overlying an inner race ring, an annular flange on each inner race ring radially extending therefrom into closely spaced relation with the cylindrical portion of the adjacent outer race ring, a cup-shaped mounting member in backing relation to each outer race ring, an axle extending through the bearings and through the mounting members and through the supporting sleeve, a Belleville washer mounted over each end of the axle and compressed against one of the mounting members to provide a predetermined preload for the angular contact bearings, each roll assembly having an annular shell member demountably pressed over a mounting member and the adjacent outer race ring, and a pair of spaced sleeve members respectively fitted over each end of a sup porting sleeve and having annular flanges radially extending into proximity with said shell portions;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,716,780 Swanson Sept. 6, 1955 

